Longtime WCAX-TV News Anchor and VAB Hall of Fame member Judy Simpson has passed away.

Judy began her Vermont television news career at WVNY in 1985 and became the first female TV news director in state history. She joined WCAX-TV in 1997 as a reporter and in 2000, Judy became the Channel 3 News This Morning anchor alongside Meteorologist Gary Sadowsky and sports anchor Shawna Lidsky. Despite retiring in 2017, Judy continued to host “Across the Fence” for one more year until she and her husband Phil Maglione moved to Florida.

Her glass-ceiling-breaking career, divine storytelling, and dedication to Vermont news and the people who live here won her many awards, including the Vermont Association of Broadcasters’ Distinguished Service Award in 2014 for her commitment to journalism. And in 2017, Judy was inducted into the VAB Hall of Fame.

Judy’s family is holding a celebration of life service Friday, November 8th at 11:00AM at Saint James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction.